Reports round-up

New audience at anti-war teach-in

Students joined long-standing peace campaigners at a 150 strong anti-war teach-in organised jointly by Manchester university students' union and Greater Manchester Stop the War Coalition.

Many were seeking answers about the reality of Iraq today, the Afghan war, why George Bush hates Iran and more. Lily Walker from Military Families Against the War gave a moving report on the effects of war on soldiers and their families.

Tickets were sold for transport to the London demonstration on 8 October. 'We will be out doing stalls every day next week to build the demo,' said student campaigns officer Andy Cunningham who organised much of the event.

Mark Krantz, Convenor Greater Manchester Stop the War

A Royal that is worth saving

A year after a huge march was held to highlight the threat to the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, a second protest is planned.

The campaign is hoping 10,000 people will attend, all with one message – that the Princess Royal Hospital should retain accident and emergency and maternity services.

Unique workers speak to council

The 17 women fighting for justice at Unique Care in Huddersfield addressed a full council meeting last week.The women were supported by a lobby called by their union, Unison.

The council welcomed a report from the scrutiny committee, which criticised the private care company and questioned the way the council had arranged funding of at least £400,000.

However, the Tory-led council refused to accept any responsibility for the women, arguing it had no legal responsibility for staff who work for private companies used by the council. The women now await council reports into the viability of Unique Care.

Nick Ruff

Notts trade unionists organise

Over 30 union activists attended a Nottinghamshire trades council meeting last week to organise in support of strike action and ballots by the postal workers and other public sector workers.

Local official Steve Blower reported that the CWU postal workers' union is preparing to counter a locally aggressive management with a refusal to use their own cars and only work to strictly agreed practices.

There were also speakers from the PCS, Unison, UCU and NUT unions and a campaigners against the closure of eight county council homes for the elderly.

Richard Buckwell, secretary, Notts, Mansfield and Nottingham TUC

No to Birmingham academies

Over 80 people came to the first Alliance Against Birmingham Academies (AABA) meeting in Birmingham last week.

The meeting was part of the campaign to stop 10 percent of Birmingham secondary schools being given over to privateers.

A message of support from two Birmingham Respect councillors, Mohammed Ishtiaq and Salma Yaqoob, was well received by the meeting.

The meeting agreed to continue campaigning and to argue for a vote on academies. It has so far issued over 5,000 copies of its pamphlet.